Zipper



April 14, 1964 STEINGRUBNER 3,128,518

ZIPPER Filed Aug. 4, 1959 INVENTOR ARTHUR STEINGRUBNER AGENT United States Patent ()fiice 3,128,518 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 3,128,518 ZIPPER Arthur Steingriibner, Bonn, Rhine, Germany, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Wahl Brothers, New York, N .Y., a partnership Filed Aug. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 831,628 Claims priority, application Germany Aug. 7, 1958 7 Claims. (Cl. 24-20513) The present invention relates to zippers. More particularly the present invention relates to new continuous interlocking elements for zippers as well as to a method for manufacturing zippers and to apparatus for performing the method.

Known interlocking elements for zippers are made in various shapes such as hooks, serpentine rows, stud links, etc. They may be combined in a zipper to form integrally connected rows of elements or individual interlocking elements or may be spacedly arranged in rows and fixed to the edge of a carrier tape.

The known zippers have inherent disadvantages. The spaces between the contact areas of the elements must be smaller than the width of the individual elements in order to assure locking and the necessary resistance to accidental opening. For many zippers preformed wire or strip has to be employed, whereas round wire cannot be used.

A further disadvantage resides in the difliculties in volved in maintaining uniform spacing of conventional locking elements especially with zippers made of plastics.

Another grave deficiency of conventional plastic zippers resides in the fact that after washing, ironing or dry cleaning the spacing of the locking elements is reduced by the shrinking of the tapes and of the continuous interlocking elements themselves, whereby the flexibility of the zipper is impaired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide continuous interlocking elements for zippers capable of being made from wires or threads of any cross section and particularly round wires.

It is another object of the present invention to provide continuous interlocking elements for zippers which may be made of plastics as an element material while avoiding shortening of the element rows after washing, ironing, or dry-cleaning.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide continuous interlocking elements for zippers in which the distance between individual members of the elements is maintained securely and permanently, whereby a zipper is obtained which has a long service life and which remains safely in the closed position.

With these and other objects in view, the elongated interlocking elements of the zipper of the invention are composed of a plurality of longitudinally consecutive members. The members of each element are constituted by a single length of elastically resilient elongated material. Longitudinally consecutive sections of this length of material constitute in each member, in order, a first connecting portion in common with an adjacent other member, a first leg portion, a head portion, a second leg portion, and a second connecting portion in common with another adjacent member. The several portions are elongated, and the leg and head portions extend in a common plane transverse of the direction of elongation of the element. The two leg portions have respective substantially parallel foot parts adjacent the respective connecting portions, and the remainders of the leg portions flare from the respective foot parts toward the head portion in a direction away from each other.

Contrary to the known zipper elements made of a helical coil the elements of the invention can be made of round wire which is manufactured more easily and at lower cost. Obviously, wire of non-circular cross section can be employed as well. If plastic threads or wire are used, these are preferably manufactured from polyamide, polyurethane, or polyester resin and pre-stretched before they are shaped into interlocking elements. The members of the elements can have any desired shape. They should include a head portion for the interconnection of two elements. These head portions may each have an enlarged center portion. The interlocking elements of the present invention can be fastened to the zipper tape very easily and without employing auxiliary elements by means of a common lock seam, a zig-zag seam or a chain stitch seam.

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof having reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is a lateral view of a portion of an interlocking element of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional plan view of the element of FIGURE 1 taken on the line II-H in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the element of "FIG- URE 1 taken on the line IIIIII;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a detail of the device of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of a modification of the element of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4 of another modified element wherein the legs of the individual members are asymmetrical;

FIGURES 7 through 9 illustrate various fastening methods for fastening the interlocking elements of the invention to the zipper tape.

FIGURES 1 to 6 show continuous interlocking zipper elements the legs 2, 2', 2" of which are disposed approximately perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal median plane 1 of the assembled zipper. The foot parts 3, 3', 3" of the legs are joined by conecting pieces 4 each of which is common to two adjacent members of the interlocking element. The connecting pieces 4 intersect the main plane of extension 5 of the zipper which is spacedly parallel to the zipper tape as will become presently apparent, and perpendicular to the median plane 1. The two legs of each interlocking member are connected to a contact or head portion 6 carrying a center portion 8 which is flattened and tapers toward the two ends of the head.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the foot parts 3 of the legs 2 of the same member are closely spaced in substantially parallel alignment, whereas the major portions of the legs flare from each other towards the lateral ends of the head portion 6. in the embodiment of an interlocking member illustrated in FIGURE 5, the foot parts 3' of the legs 2' are closely spaced in parallel alignment and are provided in their outward sides with grooves 9 which receive a sewing thread when the element is sewn to a zipper tape.

The members of the inter-locking elements illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 5 are symmetrically formed with respect to the main plane 5. It is, however, also possible to make the legs non-symmetrical with respect to any plane perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the head portion 6 as shown in FIGURE 6. Both legs 2" are fastened to the same side of a zipper tape 10.

FIGURES 7 to 9 show respective zipper sections in top view. They are held together by interlocking elements according to FIGS. 1 to 4, 5, or 6. These figures also illustrate methods of fastening the interlocking elements to the zipper tape.

In FIGURE 7 the elements are respectively fastened to the tape 10 by means of a single row of lock switches 11, whereas in the example of FIGURE '8 they are fas- 3 tened to the tape by means of a respective seam of chain stitches 12; in FIGURE 9 the interlocking elements are secured to tapes by means of zig-zag stitches 13.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to ditferent applications and conditions and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a zipper, an elongated interlocking element composed of a plurality of longitudinally consecutive members and constituted by a single length of elastically resilient elongated material, longitudinally consecutive sections of said length of material constituting each of said members, in order, a first connecting portion in common with an adjacent other member, a first leg portion, a head portion, a second leg portion, and a second connecting portion in common with another adjacent member, said portions being each elongated, said leg portions and said head portion extending in a common plane transverse of the direction of elongation of said element, said first and second leg portions having respective substantially parallel foot parts adjacent the respective connecting portions, and the remainders of said leg portions flaring from the respective foot parts toward said head portion in a direction away from each other.

2. In a zipper as set forth in claim 1', the respective first leg portion of two adjacent members being substantially parallel, and the respective second leg portions of said two members being substantially parallel, and the connecting portion common to said two members connecting the first leg portion of one of said two members with the second leg portion of the other one of said two members.

3. In a zipper as set forth in claim 1, said common plane being substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of said element.

4. In a zipper as set forth in claim 1, the leg portions and head portion of each of said members having a plane of symmetry longitudinal of said element.

5 In a zipper as set forth in claim 1, one of said foot parts being formed with an open groove, the open side of said groove facing away from the other foot part of the respective member.

6. In a zipper as set forth in claim 1, tape means; and a row of stitches securing said element to said tape means, said stitches passing over the foot parts of said plurality of consecutive members substantially in the direction of elongation of said element, and being secured to said tape means intermediate adjacent ones of said foot parts.

7. In a zipper as set forth in claim 6, the respective first leg portions of two adjacent members being substantially parallel, and the respective second leg portions of said two members being substantially parallel, and the connecting portion common to said two members connecting the first leg portion of one of said two members with the second leg portion of the other one of said two members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,242,794 Puschner May 20, 1941 2,467,227 Potter Apr. 12, 1949 2,629,911 Macy Mar. 3, 1953 2,876,519 Dittimayer Mar. 10, 1959 2,903,745 Hansen Sept. 15, 1959 2,919,482 Casson Ian. 5, 1960 2,920,351 Hardesty Jan. 12, 1960 2,939,192 Hansen June 7, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 551,821 Belgium Nov. 14, 1956 568,859 Belgium July 15, 1958 928,222 Germany May 26, 1955 

1. IN A ZIPPER, AN ELONGATED INTERLOCKING ELEMENT COMPOSED OF A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY CONSECUTIVE MEMBERS AND CONSTITUTED BY A SINGLE LENGTH OF ELASTICALLY RESILIENT ELONGATED MATERIAL, LONGITUDINALLY CONSECUTIVE SECTIONS OF SAID LENGTH OF MATERIAL CONSTITUTING EACH OF SAID MEMBERS, IN ORDER, A FIRST CONNECTING PORTION IN COMMON WITH AN ADJACENT OTHER MEMBER, A FIRST LEG PORTION, A HEAD PORTION, A SECOND LEG PORTION, AND A SECOND CONNECTING PORTION IN COMMON WITH ANOTHER ADJACENT MEMBER, SAID PORTIONS BEING EACH ELONGATED, SAID LEG PORTIONS AND SAID HEAD PORTION EXTENDING IN A COMMON PLANE TRANSVERSE OF THE DIRECTION OF ELONGATION OF SAID ELEMENT, SAID FIRST AND SECOND LEG PORTIONS HAVING RESPECTIVE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL FOOT PARTS ADJACENT THE RESPECTIVE CONNECTING PORTIONS, AND THE REMAINDERS OF SAID LEG PORTIONS FLARING FROM THE RESPECTIVE FOOT PARTS TOWARD SAID HEAD PORTION IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. 